EVERETT — A majority of Snohomish County employees agreed to take unpaid furlough days and shortened work weeks to avoid layoffs, local union representatives said on Wednesday night.
Members of the local council for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees overwhelmingly approved a tentative agreement by ballot. The concessions amounted to a 4 percent pay cut for about 60 percent of the county’s 2,900 employees. County officials had requested the cutbacks to help manage a $6.7 million budget shortfall.
“It was a real tough thing that our members had to work through,” union president Chris Dugovich said. “They are public servants and public employees.”
The agreement freezes wages for the union’s workers at 2009 levels if the revenues are near forecast levels. There are provisions for both sides to renegotiate if those figures come in better or worse.
County Council Chairman Mike Cooper said the deal could save 75 workers from being laid off. James Trefry, a union staff representative, said that number could have reached 100 if the terminated workers were at the lower end of the wage scale.
The county council still needs approve the agreement for it to take effect.
Noah Haglund: 425-339-3465, nhaglund@heraldnet.com.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
